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Maclean et al. - 2002 - Rice almanac source book for the most important e

Maclean et al. - 2002 - Rice almanac source book for the most important e

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BHUTAN, surrounded by India and China high in <strong>the</strong> Him<strong>al</strong>ayas, is a tiny nation of 47,000 km 2<br />

with a population of 2 million. Apart from snow-covered mountains, <strong>the</strong>re are sou<strong>the</strong>rn tropic<strong>al</strong><br />

plains and centr<strong>al</strong> temperate plains. Only 2.4% of <strong>the</strong> land is arable, and h<strong>al</strong>f of that is on<br />

steep mountainsides. Nearly <strong>al</strong>l <strong>the</strong> work<strong>for</strong>ce is engaged in agriculture, which makes up 38%<br />

of <strong>the</strong> GDP.<br />

Gener<strong>al</strong> in<strong>for</strong>mation<br />

• GNI per capita PPP$, 2000: 1,440<br />

• Intern<strong>al</strong> renewable water re<strong>source</strong>s: 95 km 3<br />

Production constraints<br />

Both <strong>the</strong> harvested area and yield of rice have<br />

remained more or less unchanged, indicating an<br />

urgent need <strong>for</strong> <strong>the</strong> creation of dynamic rice<br />

research and development programs. There are<br />

sever<strong>al</strong> constraints to sustainable rice production<br />

in Bhutan:<br />

• Low temperature at high <strong>al</strong>titude<br />

• Most rice soils are sandy loams or loams<br />

with low fertility<br />

• Weeds, especi<strong>al</strong>ly Potamog<strong>et</strong>on distinctus;<br />

insects; and diseases, especi<strong>al</strong>ly blast<br />

• Rur<strong>al</strong> poverty<br />

• Inadequate infrastructure and inadequate<br />

credit and input supply<br />

• Poor transportation and distribution systems<br />

Production season<br />

Planting Harvesting<br />

Main season Apr-Jun Aug-Nov<br />

134 <strong>Rice</strong> <strong>al</strong>manac

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